, 1887-03-17
A SACRIFICE.

pane tlOuuS, like DlTuS Vi cNu Oiltu,
Were s%cudding across the winter sky.
Against the base of the mountain the
lights of the little valley town nickered
iitfully, intensifying the darkness of the
intermediate mountain trail.
She was n glorious creature physically;
wild and untamed as the Sierra wastes
that surrounded her. Darcy Breene's
blue eyes caught a warm CLEAN as they
dwelt on her, porting over book and slate
in the light of n pine fire. Red Ranch
Bob, glowering from the opposite
corner, noted the glance, and clinched
his teeth over a curse that was only half
stifled. Darcy's eyes grew perceptibly
warmer as the murmer reached him. 1t
was in the nature of the young fellow to
grow defiant under fire.
Sal closed her book with a sigh and
rose slowly, her splendid figure, in its
pain, lark habit, outlined clearly against
the background of ruddy flame.
Pm thinkin' ez how yen need suthin
hot agin We git down yonder,' she said
to Darcy, and took down a brown bottle
from the hanging cupboard, loosening
the cork as she handed it to him.
He accepted the bottle from her hand,
smiling into her glowing face as their
fingers met, and replaced it upon the
shelf from which she had taken it.
"None tonight, thank you," he said.
meaningly. MY heart is too warm ~
it is. Perhaps you know what hand has
already kindled the flame"
The next moment he had hidden her
good night, and was struggling bravely
through the drifts without.
For some minutes after the door had
closed upon him there was silence in the
little cabin, broken only by the heavy
breathing of old Tom Enderly, enjoying
his nightly drunken sleep in the adjoin-
ing room. Sal, standing dreamily with
folded hands, and happy eyes fixed some
what w~istfully on the flames, sighed as
a rough clasp upon her arm recalled her
from her %reverie. She shuddered ipvol-
UNFAIRLY as she turned to confront Bills
resentful, surly face. 1t was such a con-
trast to that delicate face, pale and quiet,
that had lust turned from her to the
stormy night without.
81 want ter know" said Bill, huskily
d want ter know Jest how long this
yer's a-goin' ter last?'
The girl shrugged her shoulders with
feigned Indifference.
This yer blizzard? Can't say, I'm
sure. P'r'aps ye might tell better-on
tn road hum"
Red Ranch Bills great fist came down
like a hammer on the little table.
''Dern We an yer sass! 1u-In kill
YET
She looked up at him unfinchingly,
with scornful, fearless eyes. His face
softened suddenly.
''Sal, Sal, he cried pleadingly, "don't
rile me, ''don't we be hard on NEEDN'T
vel Quit this yer thing now, whar it be.
Kun ter tn ranch, ter tn ranch ez hez
ben waitin' fur We sense tn night when
We gev me tn word ez I'd lived fur, fur
three long year, Me nor tn ranch don't
AK no larnin', Sal. We only wants
yersel'!"
The girl shrank from his touch, brac-
ing herself against the chimney side.
There was a conflict coming, and she was
not sure Just how fierce u one it might
be. The fire on the hearth was paling.
The glow on her face paled with it, and
died out.
BILL, she said, I'm sorry ez how ye
wants me; I'm sorry fur tibet thar word
ez yo counts I gev ye, fur I can't hold ter
it, l can't. I'm a-goin' ter ak ye ter let
me go-ye' don't want a gal ter tn
ranch ez I'D hate it more n more ev'ry
day an night. Don't hold me ter it,
Bill. fur l can't marry ye-I can'tl'
Tears were in her voice, tears were
very near her eyes, but the unwonted
s~oftness of her face was not of long dura-
ton, for the mans arms were round her,
crushing her in their grasp; his fierce
eyes burning her face.
II ak We one question" he painted.
''Be ye tn gal ez I've loved an wanted
til gal ez is fit ter be an honest mans
wife-or be We Darcy Breene's leavin's-
tn woman ez the schoolmaster hcz
wronged?'
He read her answer in her steadfast,
unshamed eyes.
$50 much tn wursen fur him. he
muttered. EFF he'd owed We aught,
I'd hev lei him live to pay it. Now
And before the girl realized that she
was free he had flung her from him and
was ~plunging madly down the trail.
She ran to the door, wringing her
hands and sobbing despairingly, as she
vainly called him back.
.'Bill, Bill. kun backl l wuz only
a-foolin' of vel I'll marry ye, Bill-In
marry YET
The wild words echoed along the
mountain, and shuddered back to her.
borne on the answering wind. For an
instant she yielded to her despair, totter-
ing weakly against the open door. The
chill snowsd dashed in her face; IN icicle.
snapped from the rafters by the wind,
fell upon her cheek, piercing sharply into
the soft flesh. Tile pain revived her.
Quich rs thought, she ran to the hearth,
falling upon her knees rs she threw aside
the rude bearskin rug, and CROPPED along
until her hands Jared a loosened stone.
To lift this, seize the old fashioned purse
that lay beneath and hide it in her bosom
was the work of n moment. Then she
caught up a shawl, wrapping it tightly
about her head and shoulders and dashed
boldly into the bitter storm. Not down
the trail. She knew a shorter way than
that Five rods ahead of the cabin be-
gan n sharp. natural descent, perilous in
summer sunshine, surely fatal now, in
the snow and darkness; a descent that
cliff BIZ cliff shelved down to the highway
leading to the town. Lightly s a deer
she sped through the ~snowdrifts, sinking
upon hands and knees MS she neared the
cliff. Then she freed her arms from
the restraining shawl, and without n
moments hesitation began the terrible
descent. Again and again she lost her
fnoti,,r. o,nin md oraip har uunh